Let the mayoral battle commence

Manchester Town Hall

ON Thursday, the residents of Oldham will be among many in Greater Manchester who will have the chance to vote for the region's first elected mayor.

Although the city of Manchester rejected a mayor in a referendum in 2011, in 2014 then Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and leaders of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) signed a devolution agreement, which resulted in devolving new powers and responsibilities to Greater Manchester, and Greater Manchester adopting a directly elected mayor for the city region.

The mayor will steer the work of the GMCA, leading on issues such as the economy, transport, police and fire services.

The mayor will represent the citizens of Greater Manchester, making the case for the region to the heart of government and on the world stage.

The leaders of the 10 councils will form the mayor's cabinet. The job of mayor will range from setting budgets and priorities for Greater Manchester's public services to acting as an ambassador for the region.

The mayor and the GMCA will be able to:

* Invest in local priorities to improve Greater Manchester through an Investment Fund worth £900million over 30 years;

* Keep more of the business rates that the councils collect from local businesses, to pay for local services;

* Set the rules for local bus services, including the routes, timetables and fares (if the Bus Services Bill is approved by Parliament);

* Manage local transport funding to help local people travel more easily;

* Take on Policing and Crime and Fire and Rescue powers for Greater Manchester;

* Work with partners to plan health and social care services;

* Set out plans for how land should be used to meet the area's housing, employment and transport needs;

* Design and deliver support for unemployed people in the area;

* Give grants to encourage and help local businesses to employ apprentices;

* Control adult education services to help local people get the skills they need (if Parliament approves the relevant legislation and Greater Manchester meets the conditions set by the Department for Education);

* Lend money to support housing developments through a Housing Investment Fund; and

* Support people and families with complex needs through a Life Chances Investment Fund.

The mayor's salary will be £110,000 a year.

Currently, the interim mayor is Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd, who is GMCA chairman and has responsibility, with the 10 council leaders, for overseeing its strategic aims and objectives.

He will oversee the transition to the fully elected mayor and further devolution.